April 16, 2007

Dale Jr. Finishes Race For Competition's Car: Kurt Busch wrecks, then leaves the track. His team gets his car ready to go back on the track, but doesn't have a driver. Enter Dale Jr. (already out of the race) who volunteered to take Busch's Hendrick's Motorsports Chevy out to finish the race, earning a few points for a competitor. Does this point towards Junior leaving for another team next season, or is he just too nice a guy, and could you EVER imagine Dale Sr. pulling this type of stunt?

This strikes me as totally bizarre and stupid. It's late and I haven't quite thought it through, but I don't understand how points are given out. Why can someone already eliminated rejoin a race? Why does it matter what car he drives? It's not "Team Hendrick" in the point standings, its some racer. If a golfer picks up someone elses clubs and fires away it wouldn't be scored as if he was some magical other person. How could his team let him get points for another team? Surely his sponsor's will be pissed, right?

chmurray, As long as Kyle Bush started the race, even if just 1 lap after the green flag, Bush will recieve any point's the driver who filled in might earn. I don't know if it's as much Junior being a nice guy as it is that someday a Hendrick driver may do the same favor for him. Also as an owner, Rick Hendrick stood to gain owners points by Junior completing any laps. And lets not forget Chevrolet, they too recieved additional manufacturer's points for additonal laps completed..... Is it fair?? Depends on which side of the fence your on. Some people don't think its fair, but I do know the drivers love it. Earnhardt, Stewart, Jarrett, Rudd and many others have either filled in or had someone fill in for them It's not the first time this has happened, and it surely won't be the last.

First off, sorry for the Busch mixup. I'm still confused by the two. Anyways, a previous post talked about NASCAR popularity, and whether they were going in the right direction with regards to the ability to keep the sport popular. I think this type of thing will do more to ruin the sport than any other practice. Even though it's been done before for various reasons (drivers filling in for each other), it just goes to show, when it comes right down to it, the drivers themselves are just faces behind the wheel, and what's really important these days in NASCAR is the overall teams and the car manufacturer. When it comes down to it, people want to see the driver they follow go out and dominate the competition, with no regard, basically, for the other drivers. This type of thing stinks, I don't care the reason or how you try to justify it. It wasn't that long ago if a driver had their car out of a race, whether it be due to a wreck or engine, whatever, they'd be so pissed they'd like nothing better than for other competitors to meet a similar fate. Earnhardt going out to earn points for the competion is like a football team lending the other team it's kicker to attempt a field goal. All NASCAR is becoming about is deal-making between teams, and naive fans need to realize this. NASCAR the way it used to be was balls-out racing, period. If Earnhardt leaves DEI, he should change his name, too, because he's not close, in any way but name, to his dad, the Intimidator, who is one of the big reasons NASCAR became popular. Drivers these days, more and more (especially the new ones) are nothing but pretty-boys, barely out of their teens, who have never proven much of anything prior to being put behind the wheel of a major ride, and they're nothing more than pawns for the money-grubbing teams/manufacturers.

This is what the greats do and it also proves it's not always about money. If Michael Jordan didn't get to the playoffs and if he was allowed and a team like the Piston's had asked him to play for them back in the day I have a feeling he would in a heart beat. I think this is/was great for the sport of Nascar, cause it was truly for the fans, they paid to see Jr race, I don't care what car he is in. Though this also doesn't speak very highly of Bush who apparently doesn't have good communication with his team and up and left the track. There is absolutely no excuse for that. I do personally think the points should be tied to the driver and not the car. I mean with the car of the future... its all about the driver so why not reward the driver. It wasn't like Jr wrecked a last place car and hopped into a first place car and took the race.

If Michael Jordan didn't get to the playoffs and if he was allowed and a team like the Piston's had asked him to play for them back in the day I have a feeling he would in a heart beat. It's a nice thought, but my money's on "Not a chance in hell". I always consider NASCAR to be the biggest niche sport going. That's why I'd imagine there'd be an outcry about something that seems relatively innocuous to the casual observer.

Substituting for another driver is not unique to NASCAR. Way, WAY back, when I was a kid, I used to listen to the Indy 500 on the radio. No, they didn't have to have somebody walk in front of the cars to warn the horses. Anyway, I remember many times when the announcers would mention that one or another driver whose car was out of the race was going from pit to pit looking to fill in for another driver who might need relief. I don't know if any prize money might have been split with a relief driver. Thus, the practice is not new, but whether it has to do with money, good will, or whatever, I do not know.

well it's like this........i think jr. is probably tired of mother theresa's bullshit and maybe would like to drive for a class act family owned team such as rick hendrick.......... but who knows.......... maybe he is just that nice of guy either way nascar allowed it and its done, me personally i am a rick hendrick fan no matter who drives his cars

I guess this is just what will keep the sport going strong on into the future....everyone's friends, just one big, happy family, driving around in circles. If sports, ANY sport, loses it's distinction between people competing against each other, then it fails to be a sport. I think this is/was great for the sport of Nascar, cause it was truly for the fans, they paid to see Jr race, I don't care what car he is in. I realize many want to see Dale Jr. race. As much as I believe that, I also believe it's about wanting to see him, in that Bud car, doing well. If he's just jumping in any car that can get himself back on the track, then he's nothing more than a sideshow act. Again, whether it's done or not, common or not, or just a one-time thing, it cheapens the sport as a whole. I just hope the Yankees and Red Sox continue hating each other.

This had nothing to do with the fans...it had everything to do with taking 3 more points away from the 48...there were not enough laps for the 5 to pass the 8 in the standing but JR taking the 5 back out there took 3 championship points from the 48. Besides if JR doesn't get in the 5 car Sunday afternoon then everyone would be pestering him about the remarks Jimmy Spencer made about Kelly that morning. Also has anyone ever thought that he might have done it just to be a little bit more of a thorn in Teresa's side?

If a driver starts in one car, he shouldn't be allowed to compete in the same race in another car. I don't care if guys used to use relief drivers way back when or what. Today's series is all about the points, and things have changed to make every point potentially crucial. If Kyle Busch's is too big a moron to stick around and give a shit, his team should suffer. The fact this isn't sort of obvious may point at some of the future problems NASCAR may face. Also has anyone ever thought that he might have done it just to be a little bit more of a thorn in Teresa's side? If that's the case, the guy needs to grow up, and at the end of the year do what he has to do. Ultimately he needs to start winning races, because right now he's only about endorsments and making money off what his late-daddy built.

Points run with the car.... not the driver... But since there is NORMALLY a 1::1 correlation of Car::Driver, they seem to be the same. Because we like to talk and write about people... we see the points listed that way.. with the drivers... To wit: If a car qualifies, then has to change an engine, like say after a blow up in intervening practice... it goes to the back of the line at race start... Dale was simply asked to do a favor for another driver, and as a small community with a lot of friends among competitors, he did it... nothing else to it.... Time was of the essence.... Piscator

This is exactly whats wrong with NASCAR. As a previous post mentioned could you ever see a football team lending out its kicker to another team. and the whole team concept in NASCAR sucks too. One driver on a team blocks for another, give me a freaking break. Each and every driver should be out there to win, not make sure the team owner gets a winner out of it. rivalry is what its all about in sports. If you take out the emotion you spoil the desire to watch and become attached. But I guess thats what you get in a sport with no home teams. You can just arbitrarily choose who your favorite driver/team/sponser is. I can't even figure out what im supposed to root for. This is the reason NASCAR is going down hill.

It is true, drivers do this from time to time as a favor, but anyone thinking this was only about a favor is fooling themselves. I'm sure Junior used the opportunity to send a small message to DEI. My guess is he didn't even ask his sponsor for approval, because he doesn't need to. If he eventually decides to leave DEI, Bud goes with him, no question. He is that popular with the fans, and the longer Teresa lets this negotiation drag on, the more he'll look up and down the garage for greener pastures. She has no clue what would happen to the organization if he left. Having said that, he clearly wants to stay in the 8, and went out of his way to praise the performance of his team and the car at TMS. And no, he's not his dad, and there's nothing wrong with that. Folks should stop trying to resurrect Dale Sr.

Folks should stop trying to resurrect Dale Sr. I really don't think it's necessarily about people trying to resurrect Dale Sr. through Dale Jr. (even though some, I'm sure, wish this could be). Dale Jr. has been afforded many opportunities, endorsements, and a huge following based largely on his name. It's definitely not due to his success on the track, because he's basically been a disappointment in that area. But if this situation had anything to do with ongoing issues with DEI and Teresa Earnhardt, then, as I said earlier, Dale Jr. needs to deal with that off the track. He's a big boy and can go make his own way, on his own terms, if necessary.

dyams - I hope the Dodgers and Giants keep hating each other also. Go Dodgers!!! There should be a rule in nascar prohibiting a substitute driver. I don't believe that anyone should get credit for anything they don't accomplish themselves.

Yeah, since the Yankees have some pitchers hurt, can't another team let their pitchers, who might not be starting during a particular series, pitch for them? I mean, geez, they're all friends. They'd just be helping out some buddies. And it might only mean a half-game in the standings. People just want to see (for example) Johan Santana pitch. They don't care what team he's playing for or what uniform he's wearing.

I realize many want to see Dale Jr. race. As much as I believe that, I also believe it's about wanting to see him, in that Bud car, doing well. If he's just jumping in any car that can get himself back on the track, then he's nothing more than a sideshow act. Again, whether it's done or not, common or not, or just a one-time thing, it cheapens the sport as a whole. Amen, best quote in this thread. If things like this continue, NASCAR will soon see its fan base drop drastically, IMHO